Petro de Luanda vs Valencia

Petro de Luanda took the lead inside 11 minutes when Tiago Reis found the net, capitalising on early defensive uncertainty from a Valencia side featuring several unfamiliar combinations. The Angolan champions carried that advantage into the break, according to multiple Spanish media reports.

Valencia improved after the interval and Umar Sadiq equalised — the Nigerian striker's first goal of pre-season giving Corberán's side a foothold. But the equaliser lasted only briefly. Vanilson restored Petro's lead, and Hélder Costa — the former Wolves and Leeds winger who joined Petro in 2025 — sealed the result with a third goal.

Valencia's inability to sustain momentum after Sadiq's equaliser proved decisive. The La Liga side conceded almost immediately after drawing level, a sign of the lack of match sharpness typical of a first pre-season friendly. Corberán used 21 players across the 90 minutes, rotating freely, which disrupted any rhythm his side might have built. The match was played behind closed doors at the Royalverd complex in La Garrotxa (Girona), where Valencia had spent the week training.

• Tiago Reis (Petro de Luanda): Opened the scoring with an 11th-minute strike and was a constant threat to Valencia's makeshift defence. Confirmed as the first goalscorer in fan footage of the match.
• Hélder Costa (Petro de Luanda): The experienced former Premier League winger showed his quality with a goal that sealed the win, demonstrating why he remains a key figure for the Angolan champions.
• Umar Sadiq (Valencia): The only bright spot in attack for Valencia. His equaliser was well-taken and gives him an early edge in the battle for the starting striker role this pre-season, as noted by AS.
• Justin de Haas and Aliou Dieng (Valencia): Both made their unofficial debuts for the club. De Haas, the Dutch centre-back signed this summer, and Dieng, the Malian midfielder, each got valuable minutes in their first run-out in Valencia white, according to Super Deporte.

Pre-season friendlies rarely produce meaningful xG — none was published for this match — but the scoreline (3-1) reflected a genuine gap in sharpness. Valencia used 21 players and made no attempt to field a settled XI; Petro de Luanda, who are in the middle of their domestic season (May–October), looked the fitter, more cohesive side. The Angolan champions' three goals came from open play, while Valencia's lone reply arrived through Sadiq after a midfield transition. AS and Plaza Deportiva both reported a 1-0 half-time lead for Petro.

For Petro de Luanda, this is a statement result against a top-tier European opponent. The Angolan champions were in competitive rhythm — the Girabola season runs through the European summer — and their sharpness showed. They next face Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad on Tuesday, 21 July at the Banus Football Center in Marbella, per the club's social media channels.

For Valencia, the result is instructive rather than alarming. The squad returned to Paterna on Saturday and will have a day off on Sunday. They resume training on Monday at the Ciutat Esportiva to prepare for two friendlies at the Antonio Puchades stadium: against CD Eldense (22 July, 20:00 local) and CD Castellón (25 July, 20:00 local), both open to members with free tickets. The 54th Trofeu Taronja against Newcastle United follows on 8 August at Mestalla. Valencia's La Liga season now begins against Celta de Vigo on 22 August at Mestalla, after the originally scheduled opener against Real Betis was postponed, according to Super Deporte. Japanese forward Ryunosuke Sato did not feature in the match, with Super Deporte reporting he was rested due to physical load management.

A routine pre-season defeat for Valencia that tells us little about their La Liga prospects but confirms Petro de Luanda are a well-organised, dangerous side when in season. The result flattered neither team significantly — it was a fitness exercise with a scoreline that happened to favour the more match-fit side.

Goalscorers per fan-match footage (YouTube). Lineup and context details from AS, Plaza Deportiva, Super Deporte, Las Provincias and Valencia CF official website.